Comparing the 4 teams involved, (Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and Man City) for me it is clear that there is a strong possibility that the 2 Manchester clubs could race ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. There have only been 3 games played this season but in this short period of time, you can see a significant difference between the 2 sets of clubs.
To start, Arsenal have had a disastrous pre-season and start to the season. The 3 summer long transfer saga of Cesc Fabregas was finally resolved with Fabregas finally joining Barcelona, leaving a gaping hole in the Arsenal midfield, and to pile on the misery for Arsenal fans Samir Nasri, who had his best season by far with Arsenal last term, was snapped up by Man City.
Arsenal’s first three games of the season has seen them have a player sent off in each game, lose to Liverpool in their first home game, and to top it off concede 8 goals at Old Trafford. On transfer deadline day, Arsenal finally made some much needed signings. They brought in Brazilian left back Andre Santos, towering German Centre-back Per Mertesacker and creative midfielder Mikel Arteta from Everton. For me these signings will rejuvenate Arsenal and put 4th spot firmly in their sights, which surely must be their aim for this season.
As for Manchester City once again they have spent big, Roberto Mancini has a huge array of talent at his disposal in all areas of the pitch this season, emphasised by their terrific start to the season. City brought in big names, such as Argentinean forward Sergio Aguero for £38m, Samir Nasri for £23m, Gael Clichy for £7m, and former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, on a free transfer.
In City’s three games this season, they beat Swansea 4-0 in the opener, thanks to two goals from debutant Aguero, brushed aside Bolton 3-2 and smashed Tottenham 5-1 at Whitehart Lane. Judging on these three games Mancini has definitely altered his safety first policy, and gone looking for the win in games instead of making sure they don’t lose. Another plus for Mancini is that striker Edin Dzeko, who looked a distant figure last season, has started this season in great form, hitting the back of the net 6 times already. So City look to be genuine contenders for the title this season. Whether they can go the distance remains to be seen.
Chelsea replaced Carlo Ancelotti with former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas, the thirty-three year old hasn’t had the easiest start to the new campaign. For a start the Chelsea team that was placed in his hands certainly needed freshening up, as the Chelsea first team has a number of thirty and over’s in it. Chelsea have brought in a couple of youngsters, including the highly rated striker Romelu Lukaku, also Chelsea have signed Spanish winger Juan Mata from Valencia who looks as if he could be a real gem of a player.
Chelsea have been in pursuit of Tottenham midfield Luka Modric all summer, even with Modric saying he wanted the green light to move to Chelsea, Tottenham stood firm and held on to their man, despite Chelsea offering a reported £40m at one stage. On the last day of the transfer window Chelsea brought in Raul Meireles from Liverpool who is a similar player to Modric, but there was still an heir of urgency about this deal which suggest Chelsea had to settle for Meireles, who is still a very good player.
Does it matter?
If the Financial Fair Play rules do what they say on the tin, Mansour City certainly and very likely Abramowich FC will be banned from the European Competitions. The 4 big teams will then be Manu, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. Let’s review this article in a year’s time…
Is that what you want?
Sky 4, but with Tottingham, your club?
No competition, ever widening gap due to Champions League profits?
Boring.